Joint analysis of whole-genome methylation and transcriptome in avian pullorum disease and validation of gene function

Abstract Pullorum disease caused by Salmonella pullorum can negatively affect growth and egg-laying performance, resulting in significant economic losses in poultry farming. In this study, spleen tissues from SP-infected chickens (group P) and SP-uninfected chickens (group N) were analyzed for funct...

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Main Authors: Jiongwen Wu, Weiming Liang, Aijun Liu, Xiaomeng Wang, Zhexia Fan, Xuerong Ma, Shuya Chen, Cheng Fang, Xiquan Zhang, Qingbin Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Genomics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11821-5
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author Jiongwen Wu
Weiming Liang
Aijun Liu
Xiaomeng Wang
Zhexia Fan
Xuerong Ma
Shuya Chen
Cheng Fang
Xiquan Zhang
Qingbin Luo
author_facet Jiongwen Wu
Weiming Liang
Aijun Liu
Xiaomeng Wang
Zhexia Fan
Xuerong Ma
Shuya Chen
Cheng Fang
Xiquan Zhang
Qingbin Luo
author_sort Jiongwen Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Pullorum disease caused by Salmonella pullorum can negatively affect growth and egg-laying performance, resulting in significant economic losses in poultry farming. In this study, spleen tissues from SP-infected chickens (group P) and SP-uninfected chickens (group N) were analyzed for functional enrichment using whole-genome bisulfite and RNA sequencing. The function of the key gene MSX2 was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results indicated significant changes in the spleen methylation pattern of group P, primarily characterized by hypomethylation in the promoter, intron, and exon regions. Coanalysis identified six genes (MSX2, C21orf62, PGLYRP2, KCNQ3, SEZ6L, and SLC38A11) with significant alterations in differentially methylated regions and differentially expressed genes. MSX2 gene overexpression markedly enhanced the expression and secretion of immune factors [Interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-β, Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-3, and tumor necrosis factor-α] in chicken macrophages, suggesting that MSX2 may play a role in immune regulation in chickens. This study revealed the effects of Salmonella pullorum infection on DNA methylation and gene expression in chicken spleen tissues and screened several potential therapeutic targets, providing new insights and methods for the prevention and control of Pullorum disease.
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spelling doaj-art-0e7f52281f9848fc96590238ebd672fe2025-08-20T03:45:19ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642025-07-0126111610.1186/s12864-025-11821-5Joint analysis of whole-genome methylation and transcriptome in avian pullorum disease and validation of gene functionJiongwen Wu0Weiming Liang1Aijun Liu2Xiaomeng Wang3Zhexia Fan4Xuerong Ma5Shuya Chen6Cheng Fang7Xiquan Zhang8Qingbin Luo9College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Pullorum disease caused by Salmonella pullorum can negatively affect growth and egg-laying performance, resulting in significant economic losses in poultry farming. In this study, spleen tissues from SP-infected chickens (group P) and SP-uninfected chickens (group N) were analyzed for functional enrichment using whole-genome bisulfite and RNA sequencing. The function of the key gene MSX2 was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results indicated significant changes in the spleen methylation pattern of group P, primarily characterized by hypomethylation in the promoter, intron, and exon regions. Coanalysis identified six genes (MSX2, C21orf62, PGLYRP2, KCNQ3, SEZ6L, and SLC38A11) with significant alterations in differentially methylated regions and differentially expressed genes. MSX2 gene overexpression markedly enhanced the expression and secretion of immune factors [Interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-β, Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-3, and tumor necrosis factor-α] in chicken macrophages, suggesting that MSX2 may play a role in immune regulation in chickens. This study revealed the effects of Salmonella pullorum infection on DNA methylation and gene expression in chicken spleen tissues and screened several potential therapeutic targets, providing new insights and methods for the prevention and control of Pullorum disease.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11821-5Pullorum diseaseSalmonella pullorumWhole-genome bisulfite sequencingTranscriptomicsImmune regulation
spellingShingle Jiongwen Wu
Weiming Liang
Aijun Liu
Xiaomeng Wang
Zhexia Fan
Xuerong Ma
Shuya Chen
Cheng Fang
Xiquan Zhang
Qingbin Luo
Joint analysis of whole-genome methylation and transcriptome in avian pullorum disease and validation of gene function
BMC Genomics
Pullorum disease
Salmonella pullorum
Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing
Transcriptomics
Immune regulation
title Joint analysis of whole-genome methylation and transcriptome in avian pullorum disease and validation of gene function
title_full Joint analysis of whole-genome methylation and transcriptome in avian pullorum disease and validation of gene function
title_fullStr Joint analysis of whole-genome methylation and transcriptome in avian pullorum disease and validation of gene function
title_full_unstemmed Joint analysis of whole-genome methylation and transcriptome in avian pullorum disease and validation of gene function
title_short Joint analysis of whole-genome methylation and transcriptome in avian pullorum disease and validation of gene function
title_sort joint analysis of whole genome methylation and transcriptome in avian pullorum disease and validation of gene function
topic Pullorum disease
Salmonella pullorum
Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing
Transcriptomics
Immune regulation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11821-5
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